BRAIN BREAKS
Brain breaks have become a recent trend in education. The rationale behind this trend is that the breaks are refreshing to both teachers as well as to students. Some educators say that the efficiency of students goes up when brain breaks are incorporated into the school day.
Brain breaks should take 1-2 minutes, and should take no extra materials or time consuming preparation. Brain breaks can be as simple as playing Simon Says, or having students engage in cross lateral activities such as having students blink their right eye while snapping fingers with their left hand 15 times in a row.
The research is still out on the effectiveness of brain breaks. So why use them? Because they are fun and they are energizing. They also challenge the brain!
When you begin to see your students’ eyes glazing over…when you begin to lose their attention…try taking a brain break!
For more ideas check out these websites:
http://brainbreaks.blogspot.com/
http://www.teachforever.com/2010/04/teachers-share-their-best-brain-breaks.html
http://www.minds-in-bloom.com/2012/04/20-three-minute-brain-breaks.html
Or check out this book
Energizing Brain Breaks
